NEW YORK (June 23, 2020) − ONE WORLD, a timely new anthem for the global pandemic reuniting a pair of prominent American songwriters with a pair of leading Soviet songwriters for the unified purpose of helping musicians, singers and actors whose incomes have been cut off by Coronavirus quarantining; supporting first responder families enduring COVID-19-related financial hardship, and changing the narrative about race in America – will be officially available for digital distribution THURSDAY (June 25) on Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes. This extraordinary collaboration, featuring an unprecedented chorus of Grammy Award winners and multiple Grammy nominees, is being offered NOW as a free download with any donation to the major charity partner beneficiaries, exclusively through www.oneworldoursong.com.
The four major charity partners are Musicians Foundation, The Actors Fund, as well as First Responders Children’s Foundation, the beneficiary of the recent “Living Room Concert for America” hosted on FOX by Elton John, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Oscar-winning songwriter Franke Previte (“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing) was spurred by the global pandemic to enlist ONE WORLD co-writer Pamela Phillips Oland (Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin) and together create an entirely new recording of their historic 1989 collaboration with updated lyrics, freshly retooled for the sole purpose of giving 100% of all proceeds from downloads to the four major charity partners.
American Songwriter calls the new version of ONE WORLD “a hopeful song of unity that recalls some of the ’80s most anthemic message songs, led by powerful vocal performances from an ensemble of well-respected, top-notch singers.”
The ONE WORLD official website is accepting easy donations of any amount, which entitle a donor to a free instant download of the song ONE WORLD. (Please note: Downloads for NAACP Legal Defense Fund donations are not yet available.)
ONE WORLD made its world radio premiere earlier this month when Entercom offered a sneak peek to global listeners during the Bob Pantano Saturday Night Dance Party, heard around the world (and nationally to Comcast subscribers) through the Radio.com app, and throughout the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region on five radio stations, anchored by flagship 98.1 WOGL. Pantano has committed to continue playing ONE WORLD on all future broadcasts.
A growing gallery of notable musicians and actors are recording PSA’s for the ONE WORLD “Celebrity Circle” on an ongoing basis. Early contributors include two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole, legendary “Sound of Philadelphia” architect Kenny Gamble, Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres, Emmy Award nominee Michele Greene (“L.A. Law”), original teen idol Bobby Rydell, actress-comedian Siobhan Fallon (“Saturday Night Live,” “Seinfeld,” “Men in Black”), Vocal Group Hall of Famer Kenny Vance (Jay & The Americans, Kenny Vance & The Planotones), Grammy nominated songwriter Rob Hyman (“Time After Time”) of The Hooters (Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame) and beloved blue collar rocker and Bruce Springsteen collaborator Joe Grushecky.
The range of charities reflects the scope and breadth of the pandemic’s devastating impact on the community. All live music-related performances: touring, concert, theatrical, Broadway, TV, film – have ground to a halt. Musicians and singers are unable to earn a living in front of live audiences. The touring infrastructure – crews, road managers, talent buying, concert promotion – has been left in disarray, with no true sense of normalcy projected to be returning for another year at least.
ONE WORLD was written in Moscow by Previte and Oland with two Estonian songwriters, Sergei Manoukyan and Mikk Targo, during the 1989 Glasnost event “Music Speaks Louder Than Words,” the first-ever Arts Exchange between Soviet and American songwriters, organized by Alan Roy Scott and Music Bridges. Previte and Oland were among the 22 renowned songwriters participating from the USA. Other notable participants included Diane Warren, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bolton, Brill Building legends Mike Stoller and Barry Mann, Desmond Child (Bon Jovi), Brenda Russell (Earth Wind & Fire, Donna Summer, Rufus), songwriting team Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly (Madonna, Whitney Houston), Franne Golde (Jody Watley, Commodores), and Alan Roy Scott (Motown, Celine Dion, Cher).
The ensuing album included the original recording of ONE WORLD by Earth Wind & Fire. The lyrics in the new recording have been lovingly updated to address the current COVID-19 crisis and, says Previte, “give hope to all mankind for us to dream again.” Every creative participant is an “UnSung Hero” to the global music community who has collaborated with superstars across many genres. Collectively known as Voices 4 One World, all have contributed to the greatness of recorded and live music as musicians and background singers, many of whom are Grammy Award winners and multiple Grammy nominees.
“These musicians and singers are the backbone of the music industry, who have made the stars of yesterday and today household names,” says Previte. “This is our heartfelt way of saying thank you and giving them some of the recognition they so rightfully deserve.”
Singers on the record are: Michael Mayo (Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock), Ronee Martin (Patti LaBelle, Wynton Marsalis), Tower of Power “Ambassador of Soul” Ellis Hall, Dorian Holley (Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart), Grammy winner Judith Glory Hill (Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Prince), Valerie Pinkston (Lenny Kravitz, Luther Vandross, Annie Lennox), Amy Keys (Herbie Hancock, Sting, Barbra Streisand), Christine Collister (Richard Thompson Band), and Lisa Sherman (Jon Bon Jovi, Blondie). Musicians are Jon Gilutin (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt) keyboards; Lenny Castro (Toto), percussion; Brendan Buckley (Shakira, Perry Farrell), drums; Scott Mayo (Earth Wind & Fire), saxophone; Jerry Watts Jr. (Andraé Crouch, Dr. John), bass; James Harrah (Melissa Etheridge, Leonard Cohen), guitar; Randy Jacobs (Was Not Was), guitar; and Tollack Ollestad (Don Henley, Andrea Boccelli), harmonica.
ONE WORLD was produced by Grammy winner Jon Gilutin (“New Attitude”) and mixed by Grammy, Emmy and Dove Award-winning engineer Bill Schnee (Steely Dan, Natalie Cole). The video was produced by Thomas Ryan Ward.
The participants in the ONE WORLD project profusely thank and honor the First Responders, and the sacrifices they and their families, including their children, are making to help all of us.
“These ‘UnSung Heroes’ of music have donated their time and talents so that our song can help make our world a better one to live in,” adds Previte. “You know their music, now you know their names! Give them all a heartfelt ‘Thank you’ as they help us to heal others.”
